Thiuram polysulfide

ABSTRACT

A process for the production of thiuram polysulfides substituted by aliphatic, araliphatic, cycloaliphatic aromatic and/or hydrocarbon radicals is disclosed. In this process, correspondingly substituted secondary amines are reacted with carbon disulfide and sulfur in a solvent at 0° to 150° C. in the presence of a tertiary amine, a metal-containing catalyst and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas. 
     By virtue of its high purity, the product obtained by this process may be used directly, i.e., without preceeding purification, for its intended purpose, for examples as a vulcanization accelerator or sulfur donor. 
     This process is particularly desirable for the substantially quantitative yields and selectivities and also for its high economy arising from the reaction being carried out in a single stage without expensive auxiliaries and from the elimination of an additional purification step.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the production of thiuram polysulfides from secondary amines, carbon disulfide and sulfur in the presence of an oxidizing agent.

Thiuram polysulfides are used above all as sulfur donors and accelerators in the vulcanization of rubber. These compounds are marketed, for example, under the name of thiuram tetrasulfide (tetramethyl or dipentamethylene thiuram tetrasulfide) or thiuram hexasulfide (dipentamethylene thiuram hexasulfide). The exact chemical constitution of these products is not yet known because there are no analytical techniques capable of distinguishing between mixtures of different polysulfides and mixtures of polysulfides and sulfur. In addition, thiuram polysulfides are sensitive compounds which, particularly in dissolved form, tend to eliminate sulfur.

These problems are described in detail, for example, in German Patent No. 27 25 166 with reference to the example of the material known as tetramethyl thiuram tetrasulfide. By using modern analytical techniques such as, for example, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), it can be qualitatively shown that the commercial products mentioned above are not uniform compounds, but mixtures of several polysulfides and free sulfur of which the quantitative composition varies according to the production process.

In general, processes for producing thiuram polysulfides start out from the corresponding dithiocarbamates which are normally produced from a secondary amine, carbon disulfide and an alkali or alkaline-earth hydroxide.

Thus, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,681,717 and 1,780,545 describe a process for producing thiuram polysulfides by reacting dithiocarbamates with sulfur chlorides in accordance with the following equation: ##STR1## Unfortunately, the yields obtained by this process are poor. An improved process for the production of thiuram tetrasulfides, particularly dipentamethylene thiuram tetrasulfide, on the basis of the above reaction equation using sulfur monochloride is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,414,014. Yields of up to 95% can be obtained by this process.

However, all of these processes are attended by the disadvantage that they use corrosive, foul-smelling sulfur chlorides and that, in addition, large quantities of unusable salts are formed as problematical by-products.

A process which precludes the additional formation of sodium chloride is described in German Patent No. 27 25 166. In this process, dimethylammonium dimethyldithiocarbamate is reacted with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of carbon disulfide and sulfur to form tetramethyl thiuram tetrasulfide.

In one variant of this process which is described in German Patent No. 27 25 166, the dithiocarbamate salt to be reacted is formed in a preliminary reaction step from dimethylamine and carbon disulfide in water and the resulting aqueous solution of the dimethylammonium dimethyldithiocarbamate is subsequently further reacted with sulfur and hydrogen peroxide in the same reaction vessel to form tetramethyl thiuram tetrasulfide. Thus, according to Example 1 of German Patent No. 27 25 166, a reaction vessel is filled with water, dimethylamine and two drops of a nonionic surfactant, the solution is stirred at 25° C. and carbon disulfide is added over a period of 14 minutes, during which the temperature rises to 35° C. The sulfur is added in one portion, followed by the addition of water. Carbon disulfide is then added at the same time as hydrogen peroxide to the suspension obtained over a period of 60 minutes, the peroxide being added two minutes after the beginning of the addition of carbon disulfide. The end product is ultimately obtained after filtration in a yield of 90%.

Although this process is an improvement over the first-described process, it is limited in its application to the production of tetramethyl thiuram tetrasulfide. Further disadvantages include the need to use a comparatively expensive and non-selective oxidizing agent (hydrogen peroxide) and a nonionic surfactant, and the non-quantitative yield.

A less elaborate process for the production of thiuram disulfides was recently described in German Patent Application No. P 31 05 587.7, according to which secondary amines and carbon disulfide are reacted in the presence of a tertiary amine and an oxidizing agent. This process, which uses metal-containing catalysts and oxygen as the oxidizing agent, gives high yields of thiuram disulfides.

There is still a need for a simplified process for producing thiuram polysulfides in high yields from inexpensive starting compounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the problem arising out of this need can be solved by a process for the production of thiuram polysulfides substituted by aliphatic, araliphatic, cycloaliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals by reacting a correspondingly substituted secondary amine with carbon disulfide and sulfur in a solvent and in the presence of an oxidizing agent, characterized in that the reaction is carried out at 0° to 150° C. in the presence of a tertiary amine, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas as oxidizing agent and in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The process according to the invention is suitable for the production of a number of very differently substituted thiuram polysulfides differing in their sulfur content.

If only a single secondary amine is used as reactant, the thiuram polysulfide obtained carries the same substituent on both nitrogen atoms. If two different secondary amines are used as reactants, thiuram polysulfides containing two differently substituted nitrogen atoms can be obtained, depending on the reaction conditions (differences in the basicity of the amines, molar ratios, etc.). In addition, more or less large quantities of the two symmetrically substituted thiuram polysulfides may be formed as secondary products. The length of the sulfur bridge in the thiuram polysulfides is determined by the quantity of sulfur used. If, for example, 1 gram atom of sulfur is used to 1 mole of secondary amine, the product obtained has a sulfur bridge consisting on average of 4 sulfur atoms (tetrasulfide). If 2 gram atoms of sulfur are used per mole of amine, the product obtained is on average a hexasulfide.

Any secondary amines are suitable for use in the process according to the invention. One such secondary amine is illustrated by the following formula ##STR2## in which R₁ and R₂ may be the same or different and represent C₁₋₁₈ alkyl radicals, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, hexyl, dodecyl and octadecyl; cycloalkyl radicals, such as cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl radicals and alkyl-substituted cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl radicals; C₁₋₁₈ alkyl radicals substituted by aryl radicals, such as phenyl and naphthyl radicals; and aromatic radicals, such as phenyl and naphthyl radicals and alkyl-substituted phenyl and naphthyl radicals. The substituents of the secondary amine may even be attached to one another by a common bridge member. Examples of amines such as these are piperidine, pyrrolidine, morpholine and derivatives thereof and also other nitrogen heterocycles.

Suitable tertiary amines are aliphatically, cycloaliphatically and/or aromatically substituted amines and also heterocycles containing a trisubstituted nitrogen atom. Preferred tertiary amines have a pKa-value of >8, for example trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine, tri-n-butylamine, n-octyldimethylamine, ethyldimethylamine, propyldimethylamine, butyldimethylamine, tetramethylethylenediamine, N-methylpyrrolidine, N-dimethylaminopyridine and 1,4-diazabicyclo-(2.2.2)octane.

The quantity in which the tertiary amine is used may be varied within wide limits. It ranges from catalytic to stoichiometric quantities and beyond to quantities corresponding to or exceeding the quantities of solvent. The tertiary amine may also act as solvent.

The oxidizing agent used in the process according to the invention is oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, particularly air.

The sulfur may be added in solid, liquid or dissolved form, for example in carbon disulfide. In this connection, it has been found that the process according to the invention involves a completely new reaction. This is because, surprisingly, a much higher oxidation rate is obtained in this reaction than in the corresponding reaction carried out in the absence of sulfur which leads to simple thiuram disulfides. This means that the sulfur has a strong accelerating effect on the oxidation.

The solvent used in the process according to the invention is not a critical factor. Thus, it is possible to use solvents of various different types, for instance aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, xylene, nitrobenzene; aliphatic esters; alkyl ethers; lower alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, t-butanol and amyl alcohol; chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethane, trichloroethane; aprotic solvents, such as dimethyl formamide, acetonitrile, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and hexamethyl phosphoric acid triamide; and also water or a mixtures of the above-mentioned solvents; etc.

In individual cases, high yields and selectivities may be obtained in pure water, depending on the secondary amine used. In general, however, the reaction velocity is lower in water than in the above-mentioned non-aqueous solvents. The solvents preferably used are aromatic hydrocarbons, lower alcohols containing up to 6 carbon atoms, mixtures of these solvents or mixtures of the lower alcohols with water.

Suitable metal-containing catalysts are any secondary group metals and derivatives thereof which are readily capable of changing valency. The metal-containing catalysts preferably used are cerium, manganese, copper, iron, cobalt, molybdenum or vanadium in elemental form or in the form of salts, oxides, complexes or organic compounds. Of the preferred metals and their derivatives, copper, manganese and cerium have greater catalytic activity than iron, cobalt, molybdenum and vanadium, although these metals and their derivatives are also useful oxidation catalysts.

Elemental copper is preferably used in the form of copper powder. Suitable copper compounds are any monovalent or divalent inorganic, organic, simple or complex copper salts. Examples of suitable monovalent copper salts are copper(I) chloride, bromide and iodide; adducts of these copper(I) halides with carbon monoxide; complex copper(I) salts, such as the alkali chlorocuprates; complex ammoniates of copper(I) cyanide, for example cyanocuprates such as potassium tricyanocuprate (I); double salts with copper(I) thiocyanate; copper(I) acetate; copper(I) sulfide and complex double sulfides of copper(I) sulfide and alkali polysulfides. Examples of suitable copper(II) salts are copper(II) chloride, bromide, sulfide, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, thiocyanate, cyanide, Cu(II) salts of carboxylic acids such as copper(II) acetate; copper dithiocarbamate; and the complex ammoniates of copper(II) salts. Copper(I) oxide is another very suitable catalyst.

Examples of suitable manganese-containing catalysts are manganese powder, manganese dioxide, potassium permanganates, manganese acetate and manganese dithiocarbamates, and also the other manganese derivatives corresponding to the above-mentioned copper compounds. Examples of suitable cerium catalysts are metallic cerium, cerium dioxide, cerium(III) chloride, cerium(IV) chloride and cerium chlorocomplex salts, cerium nitrate and nitrato salts, cerium sulfate, cerium carbonate, cerium oxalate and the cerium sulfides.

Examples of iron catalysts are the known iron oxides, iron(II) and iron(III) salts and also the complex salts.

Examples of suitable vanadium catalysts are vanadium oxides, chlorides and sulfates and also the known double and complex salts.

Suitable cobalt catalysts are the known cobalt oxides, cobalt(II) salts and the complex salts.

Finally, examples of suitable molybdenum catalysts are the oxides, chlorides, sulfides and fluorides, the molybdates and also the known complex acido salts.

Mixtures of several of the above-mentioned catalysts may of course also be used.

The quantity of metal-containing catalysts required is surprisingly small and preferably amounts to between 0.01 and 5 mmoles per mole of secondary amine. Although even smaller quantities of catalyst may be used, longer reaction times have to be accepted in that case. Larger quantities of catalyst are not recommended because, in that case, the catalyst is in danger of precipitating and contaminating the reaction product.

The process according to the invention is carried out at temperatures of from 0° to 150° C., preferably at temperatures of from 20° to 90° C. Although temperatures above 90° C. increase the space-time yield, they are less preferred for reasons of safety.

The process according to the invention is preferably carried out at oxygen pressures or partial pressures of at least 0.1 bar. As expected, the reaction rate increases with increasing pressure. For reasons of safety, a pressure in the range from 1 to 10 bars is preferred.

To carry out the process, the reactants, the catalyst and the solvent may be combined in any order. The secondary amine and the carbon disulfide are generally used in a substantially stoichiometric ratio (1:1), although it is preferred to use the carbon disulfide in a slight excess (of 0.01 to 0.2 mole). The quantity of sulfur used may be varied within wide limits, depending on the end product required. The sulfur is preferably used in a quantity of from 1 to 3 gram atoms per mole of secondary amine. If 1 gram atom of sulfur is used per mole of secondary amine, a thiuram tetrasulfide is generally obtained; where 2 gram atoms of sulfur are used, the product obtained is a thiuram hexasulfide; and, where even larger quantities of sulfur are used, correspondingly higher thiuram polysulfides are formed. It is particularly preferred to use from 1 to 2 gram atoms of sulfur per mole of secondary amine.

In one embodiment of the invention, the secondary amine, the carbon disulfide, the sulfur, the tertiary amine and the metal-containing catalyst are dissolved or suspended in the solvent and reacted in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to form the corresponding thiuram polysulfide. It is equally possible to isolate the dithiocarbamate formed as an intermediate product from secondary amine, carbon disulfide and tertiary amine, and then to react this dithiocarbamate with sulfur in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and the metal-containing catalyst. It is also possible to add the secondary amine, the carbon disulfide and the sulfur into the reaction solution during the reaction.

The reaction time depends on the process conditions and on the secondary amine used and generally amounts to between a few minutes and several hours. Under favorable conditions in regard to temperature and oxygen pressure, the reaction time is a few minutes to 1 hour.

The process according to the invention is readily carried out by delivering the oxygen or oxygen-containing gas under pressure onto the reaction mixture or by passing it into or through the reaction mixture under the temperature and pressure conditions indicated above. The end of the reaction (in the event of complete conversion) is easily recognized, for example when the uptake of oxygen comes to an end.

In most cases, as for example with the tetramethyl thiuram polysulfides or dipentamethylene thiuram polysulfides, the end product immediately precipitates in solid form from the reaction mixture and may be filtered off. In other cases, the desired product is obtained by cooling or concentrating the reaction mixture. Liquid products are obtained in pure form by distillation or by extraction.

In the industrial application of the process according to the invention, it is advantageous to recycle the mother liquor consisting essentially of solvent, tertiary amine and metal-containing catalyst, there being no need always to add fresh tertiary amine or metal-containing catalyst. For example, more than 10 reaction cycles may be carried out with the same mother liquor and with the same high yield without any apparent reduction in the catalytic activity of the mother liquor.

In the process according to the invention, substantially quantitative yields and selectivities of more than 99% may be obtained in most cases. The products are obtained in highly pure form and may generally be used for their intended purpose without purification. Providing the appropriate amount of sulfur is added, the products obtained correspond in their chemical composition to the commercially available products (for example tetramethyl or dipentamethylene thiuram tetrasulfide or dipentamethylene thiuram hexasulfide).

The single-stage process according to the invention is distinguished from the known two-stage process, in which the dithiocarbamates are first synthesized, by its economy and environmental compatibility because no auxiliaries are used. The process according to the invention has the advantage over the single-stage process for the production of tetramethyl thiuram tetrasulfide only, which is known from German Patent No. 27 25 166, that a considerably less expensive oxidizing agent can be used in a simple reaction and that substantially quantitative yields and high selectivities are obtained.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting Examples.

EXAMPLE 1

In a 1 liter glass autoclave equipped with a double jacket for the circulation of a heating liquid, a thermometer, a manometer and a stirrer, 25.64 g (0.8 gram atom) of sulfur and 31.2 g (0.41 mole) of carbon disulfide were added to a solution of 34.06 g (0.4 mole) of piperidine and 20.2 g (0.2 mole) of triethylamine and 4.9 mg (0.02×10⁻³ mole) of manganese (II) acetate tetrahydrate in 280 ml of methanol. The reaction mixture was heated to 50° C., intensively stirred and placed under an oxygen pressure of 1.8 bars. Oxygen consumption was immediately recorded and an almost white, fine deposit was formed. The reaction was over after 55 minutes (no further uptake of oxygen). The piperidine was completely reacted. The deposit formed was filtered off, washed with methanol and dried. 87.8 g of product melting at 124°-127° C. were obtained. This product corresponded in its composition to dipentamethylene thiuram hexasulfide.

Analysis: dipentamethylene thiuram hexasulfide C₁₂ H₂₀ N₂ S₈ : calculated: C 32.11%, H 4.49%, N 6.24 %, S 57.15% found: C 32.2%, H 4.6%, N 5.9%, S 57.4%.

Analysis of the product by high pressure liquid chromatography showed that the contents of free sulfur and dipentamethylene thiuram disulfide were both below 1%.

The mother liquor contained another 1.2 g of the product which can be isolated by concentration or by intensive cooling. The trimethylamine used was also present unchanged in the mother liquor. Accordingly, the total yield amounted to 89.0 g, corresponding to 99.1% of the theoretical yield.

The product obtained by this process corresponded as a sulfur donor to the products commercially available as dipentamethylene thiuram tetrasulfide.

EXAMPLE 2 Comparison Example

The procedure was as in Example 1, except that no sulfur was added. The oxidation reaction which, in this case, leads to dipentamethylene thiuram disulfide took place much more slowly. After a reaction time of 55 minutes, the reaction mixture contained only 11.2 g of dipentamethylene thiuram disulfide (corresponding to 17.5% of the theoretical yield) having a melting point of 132° C. This Example shows that the sulfur greatly accelerates the reaction.

EXAMPLE 3

In the reaction apparatus described in Example 1, 78.7 g (0.3 mole) of triethylammonium pentamethylene dithiocarbamate, which may be obtained for example by reacting triethylamine, piperdine and carbon disulfide in alcoholic solution, were reacted as in Example 1 with 9.6 g (0.3 mole) of sulfur and oxygen in 300 ml of methanol in the presence of 6.1 mg (0.025×10⁻³ mole) of manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate. The reaction temperature was 50° C., the oxygen pressure 1.7 bar and the reaction time 70 mins.

The product obtained melted at 123° to 128° C. and corresponded in its composition to dipentamethylene thiuram tetrasulfide.

Analysis: dipentamethylene thiuram tetrasulfide C₁₂ H₂₀ N₂ S₆ : calculated: C 37.46%, H 5.24%, N 7.28%, S 50.1%, found: C 37.4%, H 5.1%, N 7.0%, S 50.2%.

The free sulfur content was below 1% (HPLC analysis). The yield amounted to 56.9 g (98.7% of the theoretical yield).

EXAMPLE 4

To prepare N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-diphenylthiuram polysulfide, 32.15 g (0.3 mole) of N-methylaniline, 23.6 g (0.31 mole) of carbon disulfide, 31.37 g (0.31 mole) of triethylamine and 9.6 g (0.3 gram atom) of sulfur in 300 ml of methanol were reacted with oxygen in the same way as described in Example 1. The catalyst used was manganese(II) acetate (0.1×10⁻³ mole), the reaction temperature was 50° C. and the oxygen pressure 1.8 bar. After 150 minutes, the reaction was terminated and the fine, pale yellowish deposit formed was filtered off, washed and dried. The resulting product, which melted at 160° to 170° C. corresponded in its composition to N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-diphenylthiuram tetrasulfide.

Analysis: N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-diphenylthiuram tetrasulfide C₁₆ H₁₆ N₂ S₆ : calculated: C 44.8%, H 3.8%, N 6.5%, S 44.9% found: C 44.4%, H 3.6%, N 6.2%, S 45.5%.

The yield amounted to 58.4 g (90.8% of the theoretical yield).

EXAMPLE 5 Comparison Example

The procedure was as in Example 4, except that no triethylamine was added. Under these conditions, there was hardly any uptake of oxygen. After a reaction time of 150 minutes, the substances used were unchanged.

EXAMPLE 6

In the reaction apparatus described in Example 1, 34.8 g (0.4 mole) of morpholine, 31.2 g (0.41 mole) of carbon disulfide, 20.2 g (0.2 mole) of triethylamine and 25.64 g (0.8 gram atom) of sulfur were reacted with oxygen in 300 ml of methanol in the presence of 0.025×10⁻³ mole of manganese(II) acetate. The reaction temperature was 50° C. and the oxygen pressure 1.7 bar. After 270 minutes, the reaction was terminated. The beige-colored fine deposit was filtered off, washed and dried. The resulting product, which melted at 119° to 122° C., corresponded in its composition to di-N,N'-oxydiethylene thiuram hexasulfide.

Analysis: di-N,N'-oxydiethylene thiuram hexasulfide C₁₀ H₁₆ N₂ O₂ S₈ calculated: C 26.53%, H 3.56%, N 6.19%, S 56.65% found: C 26.3%, H 3.5%, N 6.0%, S 56.9%.

The yield amounted to 84.0 g (92.8% of the theoretical).

EXAMPLE 7 Comparison Example

The procedure was as in Example 6, except that no triethylamine was added. Under these conditions, the uptake of oxygen was very slow. After 270 minutes, the reaction mixture essentially contained the individual starting components in unchanged form or as dithiocarbamates.

EXAMPLE 8

In the reaction apparatus described in Example 1, 34.8 g (0.4 mole) of morpholine, 31.2 g (0.41 mole) of carbon disulfide, 24.2 g (0.41 mole) of trimethylamine and 12.8 g (0.4 mole) of sulfur were reacted with oxygen in 300 ml of isopropanol in the presence of manganese(II) acetate (0.2×10⁻³ mole) as catalyst. The reaction temperature was 60° C. and the oxygen pressure 1.8 bar. The reaction was over after 90 minutes. By filtering off and washing the deposit formed, di-N,N'-oxydiethylene thiuram tetrasulfide melting at 120° to 130° C. was obtained in a yield of 73.1 g (94.1% of the theoretical yield).

EXAMPLES 9 TO 12

The procedure was as in Example 1, except that different catalysts and different reaction temperatures were used. The corresponding reaction times and product yields are shown in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Exam-                    Reaction                                                                              Reaction                                                                              Yield                                   ple                      temp.  time   (% of                                   No.   Catalysts (mmole)  (°C.)                                                                          (mins.)                                                                               theoretical)                            ______________________________________                                          9    CuCl      (0.1)    50     110    96.9                                    10    CuCl.sub.2                                                                               (0.05)   65     95     96.2                                    11    Ce(NO.sub.3).sub.3                                                                       (0.04)   40     60     97.6                                    12    MnSO.sub.4                                                                               (0.02)   50     55     98.8                                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES 13 TO 16

The procedure was as in Example 1, except that other solvents were used. The results are shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                                           Yield                                        Example                                                                               Solvent         Reaction time                                                                             (% of                                        No.    (300 ml)        (mins.)    theoretical)                                 ______________________________________                                         13     toluene         190        95.7                                         14     isopropanol     75         99.2                                         15     ethanol         65         98.5                                         16     methanol/10% water                                                                             60         97.8                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 17

In this Example, air was used as the oxygen-containing gas. 34.5 g (0.4 mole) of piperidine, 31.2 g (0.41 mole) of carbon disulfide, 9.9 g (0.1 mole) of triethylamine and 12.8 g (0.4 gram atom) of sulfur were reacted as in Example 1 in 300 ml of methanol in the presence of 0.025×10⁻³ mole of manganese(II) acetate and air (total pressure 5 bar). The reaction temperature was 50° C. and the reaction time 120 minutes. The dipentamethylene thiuram polysulfide was obtained in a yield of 75.2 g (97.9% of the theoretical yeild).

EXAMPLES 18 TO 21

Other secondary amines were used in the following Examples in which the procedure adopted was as described in Example 1. In each case, the solvent used was methanol (300 ml) and the oxygen pressure was 1.7 bar.

The other reaction conditions and also the yields and melting points of the corresponding thiuram polysulfides are shown in Table 3 below.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                               Mn(II) Reaction                                                                              Reaction                               Example                                                                              Sec. amine                                                                             CS.sub.2 /NET.sub.3 /sulfur                                                                acetate                                                                               temperature                                                                           time   Product   Yield (% of           No.   (mole)  (mole/mole/gram atom)                                                                      (mmole)                                                                               (°C.)                                                                          (mins.)                                                                               M.p. (°C.)                                                                        theoretical)          __________________________________________________________________________     18    (CH.sub.3).sub.2 NH                                                                    0.41/0.05/0.8                                                                              0.05   50     40     ((CH.sub.3).sub.2 NCS.sub.2                                                    ).sub.2 S.sub.4                                                                          98.0                        (0.4)                                    99-104                          19    (CH.sub.3).sub.2 NH                                                                    0.51/0.05/0.5                                                                              0.05   60     75     ((CH.sub.3).sub.2 NCS.sub.2                                                    ).sub.2 S.sub.2                                                                          97.7                        (0.5)                                    110-126                         20    (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 NH                                                             0.31/0.1/0.3                                                                               0.2    30     125    ((C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2                                                       NCS.sub.2).sub.2 S.sub.2                                                                 93.8                        (0.3)                                    wax-like                        21                                                                                    ##STR3##                                                                              0.41/0.1/0.8                                                                               0.05   50     55                                                                                     ##STR4## 92.8                        (0.4)                                    133- 136                        __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the production of thiuram polysulfides substituted by at least one member of the group consisting of aliphatic, araliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals, comprising reacting (a) a secondary amine substituted by at least one member selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, araliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals, (b) carbon disulfide, and (c) sulfur, the reaction being carried out in a solvent at a temperature of from 0° to 150° C. in the presence of a tertiary amine, an oxidizing agent comprising oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, and a metal-containing catalyst.
 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein from 1 to 1.2 moles of said carbon disulfide are used per mole of said secondary amine.
 3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein from 1 to 3 gram atoms of said sulfur are used per mole of said secondary amine.
 4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metal-containing catalyst is used in quantities of from 0.01 to 5 mmoles per mole of said secondary amine.
 5. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of cerium, manganese, copper, iron, cobalt, molybdenum and vanadium, in elemental form or in the form of salts, oxides, complexes or organic compounds.
 6. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tertiary amine has a pKa value of ≧8.
 7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solvent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon, a lower alcohol containing up to 6 carbon atoms, and a mixture of the lower alcohol with water.
 8. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 20° to 90° C.
 9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out in a single step. 